Also, I’m not naturally photogenic. And I don’t say that to fish for compliments. Anyone who has ever photographed me would agree if they were honest. ha!

I overthink things.
Where do I put my hands?
WHAT DO I DO WITH MY FACE?!
And I blink… Almost Every. Damn. Time.

But…

You take enough pictures (think machine gun speed), you’ll eventually (hopefully) get a good one or two. In the photography industry, we call that “spraying and praying”. 🙂

(See what I mean? What am I doing with my face?!) ^^^

Anyway, perhaps some of you knew these things about me, perhaps others didn’t. But I feel it’s important to admit because if you’re like me and you avoid being in front of the camera at all costs, I want you to know that I understand! I get it. I really do.

However….

As women, as mothers, as daughters, as people who are loved by friends and family, I feel that it’s important to step out of our comfort zone and step in front of the camera every once in a while.

Why?

Reason #1: Do it for yourself.

I know what you might be thinking… “I don’t want pictures of myself!” But sometimes it’s not about the end result (the portraits) as much as it is the process.

Almost every woman I’ve photographed has the same story… they were talked into the photo shoot by their friends and family. They thought about canceling. They were so nervous. They wondered “What do I do with my hands? I don’t know how to pose! What if I look stupid? I’m going to feel SO stupid! Is this selfish of me? Does it make me seem conceited? I shouldn’t spend money on myself when I could spend it on my kids.”

Do any of those sound familiar? 🙂

I bet they do. But here’s the thing. We are our own worst critic. No one is going to be more critical of us than we are of ourselves. However, if you go through this experience, you’re going to gain so much self-confidence. Not only did you do something that was out of your comfort zone, but you’re going to have fun! You’re going to LOVE the way you look (in the mirror and in portraits). And perhaps more importantly, you’re going to love the way you feel.

But if that isn’t reason enough, let me present…

Reason #2: Do it for those that love you.

A quick personal story…

When I was 5 years old, my family experience a house fire that claimed my mom’s life. It was a total loss, so almost everything we owned was completely destroyed. One exception was our family pictures. Most are burned on the edges and still smell like a house fire even 31 years later, but those precious memories were saved!

Unfortunately, my mom was always the one behind the camera capturing memories of everyone else. I have very few photographs of her, sadly.

Your children and grandchildren want/will want photographs OF YOU…not just of them. So please… make sure you’re in photographs. Whether those are snapshots, family portraits, portraits of yourself, etc.

Just be photographed.

Don’t wait…

“Until I lose those last 15 pounds”

“Until I get a tan this summer”

“Until my hair grows out”

“Until I pay off some more debt”

“Until I find the perfect outfit”

Do it now. Because sometimes “until….” never comes.

Be photographed for yourself. Be photographed for those who love you. It doesn’t matter the reason. It doesn’t matter if you choose to hire us or someone else.

Just do it already.

Walking the Walk

A few short months ago, I decided that if I’m going to launch this new branch of women’s portraiture, I better walk the walk and not just talk the talk. How can I tell women they need to be photographed when I refuse to be photographed myself? (I’ll talk about the Woman’s Portrait Experience in a few paragraphs).

So, friend and professional photographer, Lydia Schuster of Studio Seven, was enlisted with the dreaded job of photographing another photographer. Ever hear how doctors make the worst patients? The same thing can be said for photographers. We make the worst subjects sometimes.

I was soooooo anxious before the shoot. I’m not even joking when I tell you that I purchased a bottle of vodka before the shoot because I thought that was the only way I’d get through it. Unfortunately, we left the studio and had already walked a few minutes to our destination before I remembered that I never even made myself a drink. #fail

Like the true professional Lydia is, she helped me relax, smile a genuine smile, and dare I say it…even have a little bit of fun!

The images above are a few that were created that day. You guys are the first to see these except for one that I had as my Instagram profile picture for about 5.2 seconds. 🙂

This is NOT a one-size-fits-all portrait experience!

The “Woman’s Portrait Experience” isn’t just one type of photo shoot. It can be anything you dream! Do you want classic, elegant portraits of yourself? Would you like to be photographed in a casual, fun way? Need some professional headshots for work and/or social media? Wish you could redo your senior pictures? Want to be a little more daring…a sexy dress or lingerie perhaps?

With this portrait experience, YOU call the shots!

Think you’re not “pretty enough”, “photogenic enough”, “thin enough”, “young enough” or any of the other lies we ladies tell ourselves (and believe)? Then this is DEFINITELY an experience for you! Because I want to show you just how wrong you are. 🙂

Supplemental wardrobe pieces (optional and we highly recommend also bringing your own clothing and accessories as well)

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Editorial-style retouching (you will look your absolute best while still looking like yourself)

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No-pressure, in-studio reveal session where you will view all our products, pick out your favorite images and place your order.

The style options are virtually endless!

Below are just a few samples of the various styles of images we can create for you. You are not limited to these samples! In your complimentary consultation, we’ll discuss how you want your portraits to look and what you want your experience to be like.

Ok, I’m in! How much is this going to cost me?

Not all good things in life are free… but all good things are worth the investment. 🙂

We understand that everyone’s wants and needs will vary. Whether you’d like your portrait experience to be quick and simple or a day of luxury and pampering, we’ve got you covered! We strive to create options that suit everyone’s budget and desired experience.

For as little as $250, you could have beautiful portraits to gift yourself, your significant other, or your family.

CLICK HERE to get more information on our Woman’s Portrait Experience. I can’t wait to meet you and show you just how beautiful you are. 🙂

I used to be really good about blogging. Then Facebook and Instagram kind of took over. But, blogging world, I’ve missed you! Along with our brand new website, I’d like to welcome you to our brand new blog! I hope you’ll enjoy it. This is where we’ll post client images, behind-the-scenes stories, pictures, videos, etc. Oh, and our occasional promo. 🙂